#9-In Deep
As the night sky loomed over New York City, the Avenjet soared through Times Square as another jet was tailing them. The Avenjet fires lasers at it, only for the other jet to avoid it.
"I thought you said this thing had a targeting system, Tony," Cap said to Iron Man. "Can't get a bead on the ship and it's starting to get hairy up here."
On the other ship, it was being piloted by a familiar foe. Grim Reaper.
"Show time," He said as he placed a hook on the ship.
"And now they got their hooks on us," Marevelous said. "Who's the stinkin' varmint that's crazy enough to attack us. But I think it's time to end this."
The hull opened showing Matterhorn as she faced Crossbones.
"Crossbones. I see your last trip to the Vault didn't end well," She said to them as Crossbones arms his guns,. "How about giving up to save yourself from embarrassment.."
Crossbones took shots at Matterhorn which she brought with a magic shield that blocked them.
"They always go with embarrassment, " Iron Man was behind her and started to fire back.
"Hang on. Stabilizers are shot!" Cap as he veered the ship right into Central Park and right into the center of it as Crossbones was sent flying off the Reaper's ship then Cap and Marevelous jumped out.
"Everyone, stay back! We have this under control," Cap said to the watching public.
"B-level moves, Crossbones," Iron Man said as he faced him. "Attacking us by yourself."
"Myself? Didn't you hear? It's bringing a pal to work."
From out of nowhere a razor sharp slash took both Cap and Marevelous as Reaper showed his face.
"You should've installed rear view mirrors on that thing Stark," Reaper said.
"Grim Reaper? What is there a pirate theme going on that I know nothing about?"
"It's just you," A voice was heard by the cyber pony Deadeye, who fired an EM-Rocket at Iron Man which shut down his armor which allowed Crossbones to pick him up and the two headed back to the Reaper's ship and took off.
Much later, the three villains were at a nearby quarry
"Is this the location?" Crossbones asked as he and Reaper carried the Iron Man.
"Unless the onboard on my ship was lying, we were in the right place," Reaper answered.
"Why jumpy, Bones?" Deadeye asked. "You ain't going to blow this, are you? I thought all things Hydra was your thing."
"It's not me I'm worried about. We stick to the plan, keep the surprises to minimum and we might make this work."
"Surprises? Moi?"
Then an elevator appeared right before them.
"Looks like they brought the red carpet for us," Deadeye said as they walked and the elevator took them down to Red Skull's base of operations.
"Hey, Skull, is this good enough to get us into your little villain club?" Reaper asked them to show him Iron Man.
"Launch the sub," He said as an AIM agent engaged the thrusters.
"Sub? Did either of you guys know this place was a sub?" Deadeye asked as the sub had taken off.
"Volcano lairs, space hideout, submarine bases. What's the difference? We're here. Smile," Reaper said.
"Miss Glow. MODOK. Should I destroy these fools for wasting our time," he asked as Cozy Glow walked in as she controlled the Adaptoid from the inside along with MODOK.
"Not yet, it's definitely Stark's Armor. Time to see what is inside this thing," She squealed.
"We already tried to. Thing's tighter than a sardine can," Deadeye said to her.
"But I'm really good at opening these things," Cozy grinned as she used the technopathic waver but it did nothing. "Drats, he impeded the suit with neural-inhibitors. Probably a safe wire way to protect from the bot's technopathic powers."
"Does the small filly need a wrench?" Crossbones asked.
"Oh shut up! There's more than one to crack…" Cozy Glow tried to rip open the armor but it ended up shocking her. "Egg!"
The chuckleheads got lucky and locked my armor but that doesn't mean out of the game.
"What? I warned her," Deadeye shrugged.
"Ugh, bring the tin can into MODOK"S lab. Maybe he has better luck in that armor than me," Cozy groan said as a group of AIM agents lifted it and followed.
"It seems you are competent after all. There might be enough room for you in our Cabal."
Skull, Crossbones, Reaper, and Deadeye were walking down the hall.
"It is said that, together, the Avengers can face threats no single hero can. Then, it is only fitting that we, their greatest foes, work together in order to destroy them." He showed them tanks, weapons, and guns.
"This is bigger than we could have imagined."
"Yeah, and I can do big things."
"Breath taking is not. We are building an army unlike any the world has to see."
"How many troops do you have?"
"More importantly, how much are you paying?"
"Who's our next target?'
"What power source does this sub use?"
"These are complex questions for mere foot soldiers," Skull was intrigued.
"Foot soldiers? Is there wax in bone head on yours, we took down Iron Man, where you fail to do so," Crossbones told him, as three vampires surrounded them.
"Skull, who are these blood sacks? We don't like their smell."
"Back off, fang face!" Reaper kicked one.
"Reaper! What are you doing?"
"We don't like vampires. Remember?"
"Yeah, they can take over anyone they bite," Deadeye armed his cannon and tried to fire but nothing happened. "What the…"
"Sorry boys, MODOK's little security protocol dampens all tech aboard the sub," Chrysalis said as she flew down to them. "Making sure everyone behaves themselves."
"Dracula, we hear about this outrage," The vampires disappear.
"Dracula? Part of the Cabal?"
"You have no idea of the power we amassed," Skull said as the alarm blared. "Ah, our guests have arrived."
"Guests? We've got to be 2000 ft down by now, who could…"
"All stations, Attuma's here."
"Attuma?"
…
"Skull, Attuma, warlord of Alantis, has done as he has promised," Attuma said. "He has the weapon. Now let us see if you can do as you claim."
"Come warlord. You will see that everything we agreed to is going to be planned," Skull said then looked at the other three. "See to his soldiers. If the weapon does what Lord Attuma promises, our war against the Avengers ends today."
In MODOK's Lab…
"Now let's see what we got," MODOK grinned as the two opened the armor only to see it empty. "An empty shell! We were tricked!"
"How's that possible?" Cozy Glow wondered then realized. "Oh ponyfeathers! Stark and Rogers, and Twilight have sneaked into the base! All heads to the aqua port."
Meanwhile…
"You had to pull that shock stunt, did you?" Matterhorn dropped her Deadeye disigused as blasted some Atlantians..
"It's called establishing credibility. Tony Stark would never let MODOK or Cozy Glow touch his armor without giving either of them a high voltage iron slap on the face."
"Glad to see you love the role playing here, but let's call the others," Matterhorn as her card. "Horse apples, MODOK"S dampens targeted our tech."
"What's the location of the hostiles?" Cap asked.
"Uh-oh, they're swarming in fast." Stark replied.
"Okay, Plan I, we escape through the aqua port into the water. Plan II, we fight our way to Skull's communications and the Avengers.
"Or Plan Awesome, I hack into MODOK's Tracking systems, sneak into his labs, and get my armor back."
"Stark, we don't have time for that… '
"There's always time when you're Tony Stark… "
"Not now!" Matterhorn teleported her and the others from the sub deck just as Skull, Attuma, Tirek, and Spellbreaker entered, having just missed them.
"MODOK? Where are they?" Skull asked.
"I can't trace them. Stark must have hacked the systems."
"Pathetic! Search the sub!" Skull ordered the AIM and Hydra agents. "You, Atlantians, check outside the ship."
"My warriors, take orders from me, Skull."
"Then tell them, Attuma."
"I watch that tongue of your skeleton. This tin box of yours is floating in my ocean," Attuma reminded him.
"Which has the Avengers in it," Spellbreaker said to him, only for the warlord to chuckle.
"Warriors, search the waters. I will not risk the Avengers stealing our prize." As all four of them left, none of them knew that the three heroes were in the air shaft.
"Looks like their little Cabal ain't the well oiled machine Skull made it out to be."
"Sounds familiar."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"We barely got you in here, you almost got ourselves killed."
"What? I blinded MODOK. You wanted to go down swimming or swinging."
"As far as I can tell, those are only two options.
Meanwhile at Avengers Tower…
"Starlight, got anything on their location?" Applejack asked her.
"So far, their signals went on the move, from what I can tell, they are in some underwater transport," Starlight said. "But I can get locked on them."
"Why did I give Mr. Stark, his flowers for him, the good Captain, and Twilight to sneak into the Cabal? It wouldn't have been easier to send me and Widow, I mean were both superspies."
"Sure, but last I checked, Skull took extra precaution for you and Widow."
"I hope SHIELD's up for a little manhunt," Starlight wondered. "Unless anypony has a good idea."
"I do. Why don't we ask the real Crossbones and the others," Pinkie suggested.
"Pinkie, I'm not sure those three are willing to talk," Fluttershy said.
"Oh, don't worry we'll make them talk," Rainbow said then made her hoof charged with lighting.
On the sub…
"What now?" Matterhorn asked.
"MODOK's power damper is most likely activated by the black box on his forehead. We shut it down, and I can reactivate my armor."
"Not that idea. We got Skull, MODOK, Attuma, and most of The Cabal after us," Cap reminded."We need to get a signal back to the rest of the team to even the odds."
"Uh, guys, you might want to see this," Matterhorn showed a live feed of The Cabal.
"That's the thing Attuma brought on board."
"Skull said something that ended the war today. And from the look at the power readings. He may be onto something."
"We found them!" Two Hydras Agents along with two AIM Agents spotted which prompted a chase.
"No time for flight, moving to the fight option," Cap said as they continued to run.
"This would be a lot easier if I had my armor, you had your shield, and the Hulk."
"You're not looking at the right way, Tony. Step one, ask yourself "What would a science whiz do?"
"Step two, Me and Matterhorn distract the target, while the whiz does his biz."
Stark got on top of a Hydra Swarmer and forced it to fire on the other which all of them shuttered down.
"Step three, enjoy the view."
"That actually worked."
"Because that's…
A hiss sound was heard as three vamps appeared.
"I hate vamps," Matterhorn said as she tried to blast them.
"I got one. Everyone hold your breath," Stark said as he used the Reaper's scythe to break a window and water came out. And left just Chrysalis and Tirek arrived.
"Are you kidding me? They escaped!" Chrysalis groaned. "How hard is it for a technopath to locate two humans and an alicorn trapped on a submarine that he has complete control over?!"
"Apparently it is, when Stark is without his armor," Tirek answered. "The last thing we need is for them and the others to stop our plans to rule the world." Then their comms beeped.
"Guys, they managed to free the Trident."
"Trident? As in Neptune's Trident," Tirek exclaimed. "I thought it was a myth."
…
"Aah, Neptune's Trident. A weapon of the gods! The power of the oceans itself. The Avengers shall fall, and all the nations of the world shall tremble before us," Skull said as he holded it.
"Alright, do we have a plan?" Cap asked.
"I got one. But for this to work, I need you guys to play along," Matterhorn requested then both of them nodded and all of them came right out in the open.
"Does anyone know where I can get a giant salad fork?" Stark asked as everyone gasped at their appearance.
"So, Tony Stark, Steve Rogers, and Twilight Sparkle. I should have thought that Stark would do something impulsive like this. But you Captain, surprise me. Here without shields nor armor to protect yourself. "
"Or even your loser friends," Chrysails glared.
"And now, you will pay for it."
"I'm not sure I'm following the plan here, Twilight?" Cap asked quietly.
"You just don't look close enough, Steve," Twilight said as she looked over Cozy Glow in the Adaptoid with a little sly on her face.
"Time to find out if the Trident of Neptune lives up to its legend," Skull said as he raised it in the air causing the sub to shake around.
"What are you doing!?" Spellbreaker exclaimed. "You're rupturing the hull!
Then water came down in the sub then Skull focused the water on the heroes as now they were in the air.
"It's true. The power to command the sea!" Then he dropped them.
"Wow! You really killed it in Vegas."
"You mock us, Stark. With the Trident, we have just weaponized water. Merely 3 quarters of the Earth is now the Cabal's to control.'
"You can have the Hudson River," Tony said before getting punched by Cap which surprised everyone (Except for Twilight)
"Seriosly is their off-switch on that mouth of yours. Skull just told you that he's going to hold the entire world hostage, and you're cracking jokes?"
"You're the only joke here, Rogers. You super soldiers are alike. Living off the work of smarter men. Case in point, MODOK. He took my armor and all Skull did was put it on. And now look's who is holding the Trident."
"Wait a pony feather minute here,' Cozy injected. "You're not planning on keeping the Trident for yourself."
'Only one, can wield at a time," Then Attuma snatched the Trident from him.
"That was not our agreement. You were released for Attuma. Its power is deprived of the ocean. I am its rightful lord."
"Not a chance fishface, I caught them, I want to destroy them!" Cozy screamed as they both tussled for it.
"You dare? I'm a king. You're nothing but a lap dog for the Skull."
"King! Ha, you're a fishmonger, I'm a little filly in control of one Hammer's inventions."
'Enough! Don't you see, they are trying to divide us!" Tirek got in between them. "They are playing you for fools."
"No offense, but I'm tired of being treated as second fiddle." She yanked the Trident from Attuma. "Now, let's see what the puppy can do!"
"Hey, Cozy, think fast!" Twilight fired a magic beam from her horn which took out the black box on the forehead causing the tech cripple a bit.
"Are we good now?"
"We will be there in about 10 seconds. Stall him."
"Condsider him stall!"
As Cap tried to stall Skull from using the Trident, the armor came to Stark, ready for action.
"Not this time, Avengers! What!?" Skull exclaimed, seeing Stark in his armor again.
"What can I say, I dress to impress!"
"You're too late to stop me, Stark! Not even your armor can save you from this!" He made a waterlike Hydra-Kraken that wrapped its tentacles around Iron Man, squeezing the life out of him before Tirek punched him in the face and grabbed the trident making it disappear.
"You think small, Skull. Allow me, to show you the true power of the seven seas," Tirek said as he mixed the trident magic with his own as he managed to create two hydro hands that grabbed the sub which started to shake.
Twilight took flight, and magically blasted Chrysails, then flew over Cozy Glow and snatched the trident from Tirek's claws, then slammed it to pieces.
"No!"
"You fool, do you have any idea what you did?!" Attuma snarled.
"Yeah, stop you from ruling the world," Iron Man answers.
"Your little pony friend has unleashed the power of Neptune! You have angered the ocean itself," Attuma said as a massive whirlpool was swirling around the Cabal Sub.
"I think I speak for everyone when I say, ABANDON SHIP!" Cozy shouted as Iron Man, Cap, and Twilight bailed as the rest hanging on the sub went deep.
"The force of the whirlpool is dragging us down. Guys, I'm sorry, I don't think my armor can save us."
"I wouldn't worry about it."
"Why not have a good time?"
"Remember I took out the damper, I also called them."
The Avenjet comes flying in as Captain Cosmos uses her magic to both Matterhorn and Cap to the ship while Thor manages to catch a falling Iron Man just and bring him to the jet just as the whirlpool disappears.
Much later…
"Thanks for the lift, Starlight."
"Thanks, what happened to the Cabal?"
"20,000 leagues under the sea, reevaluating their partnership."
"If I'm honest here, you two manage to survive each other unlike The Cabal."
"I've recently learned that sometimes it doesn't hurt to have a plan."
"How ironic, cause I learned that sometimes you need to follow your own gut."